Football Rules, OK!
Text by Nick Rees
Photos by Alina Genenko
Saturday 24th March was a night to remember for members and guests of the Allianz Rosno Expat Football League as they held their 5th Annual Charity Ball sponsored by Russia Today.
Almost 300 expats attended at the newly refurbished Renaissance Penta Hotel in anticipation of a great night of fun, food and frolics. Organisers Nick Rees, Peter Schulze and Kelvin Pang made sure everything went to plan as 55 lottery prizes were handed out during the evening and the 10 auction items helped raise almost $30,000 for charity on the night.
In the auction, a limited-edition signed Pele shirt went for $2,500, a Liverpool shirt signed by the 1980s European Cup winners fetched $4,000, a break (inc. hotel, flights and VIP tickets) to see Bayern Munich vs Hannover at the Allianz Arena raised $1,800 and a signed Sunderland shirt raised $2,000.
Entertainment came in the form of the famous Russian band “Reflex” but, judging by the crowds dancing, the expat band “Croupier” stole with show with a breath-taking performance. What made it even better was the leader of the band, Gwyn Thomas, was celebrating the birth of his first child, Liam Alexander Thomas, and still can’t remember what he sang that night!
League co-founder, Darren Keane, awarded players for their achievements during the Summer Season in his usual comical way. Winners included David Denning (Player of the Year), Ivo de Haas (Midfielder of the Year), Osman Genc (Top Scorer), Sasha Gorlov (Best Defender) and Kelvin Pang (Manager of the Year).
The fun continued until the early hours as guests enjoyed the food, drinks and entertainment all provided courtesy of the support of Russia Today, Allianz Rosno and Pepsi-Cola.
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Luckily food was provided until 3am!
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There is no sexual discrimination in the Moscow Expat Football League.
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The two charities that will benefit from the generosity of the guests on the night are Diema’s Dream (for disabled Russian Orphans) and Dogs for the Blind – two very worthy causes that the league has supported for many years.
For more information and to join or sponsor the league, please visit www.moscowfootball.com
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Spot the Moscow Flagon insider - top left of the photo
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